Happy Friday, everyone! And it’s been a double fun one for us, because we’ve just spent the day at Woollinn, Dublin’s festival of yarn!
I was helping out my buddy Diarmuid of S Twist Wool for the day, so there might be a bit of a bias in the photos…
Are you spotting a pattern yet? Still, I was pretty excited to see the new ranges he’s added since we last met up to talk yarn… And top of the list was definitely this spectacular batch of naturally-dyed Galway fleece! Check out those colours…
Another bonus is that the wool itself is ALL sourced from Irish farms… As you can see in the map in the photo above.
Oh, and of course there were a couple of Beasties knocking around!
This little monster guy was specially made to tie in with a promotion Diarmuid is running on his stand at Woollinn this weekend. If you know the significance of his accessories…
… Bring along your copy of the “Guide” or a towel to receive a sneaky discount off your purchase!
It was also nice to catch up with another old friend – do any of you remember Ruari, the spinner’s assistant Beastie?
He was helping out like a true pro, showing off some of LB Handknits‘ beautiful designs! This is the San Fhoraois sweater tank, which you can find here on Ravelry.
However, our newer Beastie friend maybe had less success when he tried to model the Laitís sweater…
All the same, he looks pretty cheerful – even if it is a little on the large side!
And, after a fun day helping out (and having a good squish at all the yarn, of course) I just had time to run upstairs and get a snap of all the stands from above!
If you’re in Dublin this weekend, be sure to check out all the yarny goodness at Woollinn for yourself! Or if you’re already planning to head there, let us know all about it in the comments!
We’ll be back on Tuesday with an update from a Beastie abroad, so be sure to join us then… In the meantime, have a wild woolly weekend!
OMG! This looks incredible!
Thanks, Nicole! It was… And the good news is, I think they might already have committed to running it again next year! Better get that plane ticket booked 😀
Oops, was that a big “SQUEEEEE” coming out of my mouth over seeing Hitchhiker Beastie, complete with towel!! And few things are better than watching beasties trying to fit into human-sized clothing. Looks like a very tempting event. Now, let’s see if I can keep WordPress from eating this comment….3, 2, 1….
Hurrah! Receiving you loud and clear! And somebody knows her “Guide”… Shame you didn’t stick around an extra few days to claim your discount! Thanks for joining us on our big day out, Tammie… And yes, it WAS a very tempting event! I had to keep my eyes down any time I went to get tea, because I knew I’d be walking home otherwise! 😆
You make need to knit yourself some blinders for these events. 😂
Great idea! Now, I should probably pick up some nice new yarn to make them… 😀
(Fainted, yarn deliciousness overload). Okay I recovered. Woonlinn? I have complete envy (of course think how much my pocketbook could have been injured at this festival!). Loved the Beasties about the festival – too cute! I love the special accessories held by the Beasties!
Thanks, Tierney! I hope that yarn deliciousness overload has completely passed… I saw quite a lot of that yesterday, actually. 😂 I had to be VERY disciplined myself, and remember all the yarns and WIPs I have at home. If I’d opened that purse, I would have been walking home! 😀 Cheers for joining me and the Beasties on our day out!
Hmmm I left a comment but it is gone, so this one is a test before I rewrite my comment 🙂
Oh no, not you too! Some of my regular blog buddies are having trouble leaving comments lately. Sorry about that! I think I had to fish one of your messages out of the spam folder, so hopefully my marking it as “not spam” will stop it happening again!
I am sure you gained all sorts of inspiration from attending that event. I love the Hitchhiker’s Guide Beastie and the qualifying criteria for the promotion.
Heehee! It’s a shame you’re not more local… You could have picked yourself up a woolly bargain! I had a great day, thanks – it was a fun event, and I met so many cool people. And a Beastie project that’s been on the back burner for a while might just have got a little closer to getting off the ground! Watch this space… 😀 Cheers for stopping by, Laura!
Looks like a fun time, with many great skeins for the squish happy! (a squish is my go-to litmus test). Glad to see the Beasties represented at Woollin this year, too! And, I have been dreaming of knitting one of LB Handknits’ summer sweaters this year – the designs are gorgeous. Happy to see that a Beastie friend was present for a fitting, too – it looks like a truly perfect fit (if we take away everything below the cowl neck!). 🙂
Hahaha! Yes, people talk about living in certain sweaters… But I think that a Beastie actually could set up home in there! I really liked the LB Handknits samples we had on the stand, and I even got to meet Ailbíona at the show yesterday, too! Which of her sweater patterns caught your eye? Thanks for your comment, Shirley! 😀
Ha! Now I’m picturing a Beastie in a sweater-turtleshell hybrid. A very suitable Beastie mobile home, I think. 🙂 And the pattern was Scéal Grá – Melissa at Knitting the Stash is currently doing the test-knit. It’s a top-down, seamless (my fave construction!). Cheers!
Ah, the pattern was Scéal Grá. Melissa (at Knitting the Stash) is now doing the test-knit and that’s where I first saw it. It’s a lovely top-down seamless number, with lace around the yoke! 🙂 (my ears always perk up at the mention of top-down construction). 🙂
Mine too! And that pattern sounds perfect for summer. I’ll have to go and check out Melissa’s test knit… And catch up with her podcasts while I’m there!
I bet you felt good indeed…
Oh yeeeeeeah! There are definitely worse ways to spend a Friday! 😀😀😀 Thanks for stopping by, Tajana!
That sea of yarn is absolutely delicious 😍😍😍😍 looks like a blast, hope it wasn’t too much work!
Cheers Weekes! Yeah, it was reeeeally tough spending a day talking to people about yarn! 😂
I’m drooling all over my keyboard….
Heehee! Yes, I think it would have been your kind of place! Cheers for stopping by, Ivonne! 😀
Ooh so much squish! Is this an annual event? I’ve always wanted to visit, and yarn is as good an excuse as any
Oh yes… It’s very important to line up your travel plans with yarn-squishing opportunities! This is the first year of this particular festival, but I heard that the organisers signed a 2 year contract with the venue, so there should be a rerun next year. And if you need a fix before then, you might still be in time for Yarnfolk. It takes place just outside Belfast, and I only heard good things about their event last year! Thanks for stopping by!